Who is ready for summer?! This girl is!! I'm ready for travel, sunshine, sand, cookouts... and ice pops. Whether you buy them from the ice cream truck or make them in your kitchen, ice pops definitely say "summer time"! With that in mind, I present June's wallpaper. Hope you enjoy it!
London Calling: 2015 edition
London Eye in the background
It's been the better part of a year since my week in London, and I am only just now sharing photos from that fun week. Please don't take it as a reflection on my travels. I had a terrific time in London! Matthew and I saw three shows: Willy Wonka, The Beatles, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. We meandered up and down Portobello Road, walked along the Thames, visited the O2 (and Matthew climbed to the top of it!), took a speed boat up the Thames, crossed over the Thames in a gondola, trained down to Brighton, and saw most of the usual tourist sights! It was a very full week, to say the least.
As our 2016 European travels are quickly approaching, I thought I'd better share the rest of our 2015 trip before making new memories. Enjoy!
April 2016 Wallpaper
Hello, friends. I'm a tad bit behind on this month's wallpaper, but better late than never! Normally, here in the New England area, April means plenty of rain and the beginning of Spring! This year, however, it's been incredibly cold, quite windy, and instead of rain, we've had ice and snow. Winter really needs to get the hint, and move along! Hopefully, we see our April showers soon. Ideally, they arrive with warmer temperatures.
I hope you enjoy this month's wallpaper. It features a classic Easton Place sketch from one of my earliest greeting cards, but I love it just as much today. In fact, the wellies were inspiration for my current logo.
Feel free to share this wallpaper post with others. Be sure to link back to my post and credit me. Thanks so much!
Happy Spring!
Wunder Kitchen Renovation
Lifestyle, Home TourWhen we first moved into our home in January, 2001, the kitchen was lovely. It was never "my style", but it was a significantly nicer space than the kitchen in our first home. It had more work space, more cabinets, double ovens, a tall ceiling, and even a pull-out pantry. On paper, it was more than I could have hoped for, but design-wise, it wasn't "me".
In 2013 my husband and I had saved up enough money to do a significant remodel on our kitchen. Initially, we had planned on expanding the footprint by five feet out, and 20 feet across. I still daydream about having that large of a kitchen, but it never became reality. Instead, we decide to use our funds to remodel the kitchen in its existing footprint, plus two and half bathrooms, the laundry room, add new windows and replace the garage doors. Expanding square footage is incredibly expensive! In the end, I'm so happy with our decision. So, on with the point of this post... The Kitchen!
Before. This is technically after we'd already added some millwork, and changed the pendant light over the breakfast nook. Plus, we had already refinished the floors a few years earlier.
This area, whilst useful, always seemed "clunky" to me. The flow just wasn't there.
Notice the missing drawer front over the trash cans. Definitely a sign the cabinets had seen better days.
During the renovation...
After...
The new space is now bright, light, and cheery! (Island Lighting | Nook Lighting)
Removing a few upper cabinets and adding windows, really visually opens up the space. I love being able to view more of my garden. And the breakfast nook is sunny and cozy.
Table: Restoration Hardware. Chairs: Restoration Hardware
The island now has more storage space, and the custom walnut top, from Lorimer Studio, adds warmth to the area. (Duluth Pulls by Restoration Hardware)
Reconfiguring the island enabled us to add a longer top. This put the seating at the end of the island, rather than along the side. Much smarter for when we host gatherings. I can get in and out of the refrigerator, while the guests are sitting at the end of the island. We're no longer in each others way, so to speak. I also love having the wide deep drawers next to my cooktop.
The updated working wall is now functional and pretty! (Penguin Soda Stream | Nespresso Citiz)
I knew I wanted to consolidate the two small counter top spaces in this work area. As a result, I was able to add a drinks area, and an additional sink. When considering what sort of oven situation I wanted, I opted for a wall oven and a convection oven/microwave combination for the second cooking and baking source. I rarely used my second wall oven. The microwave unit can serve as a fully functioning oven, should I need to have a second baking source. I also have a very useful toaster oven that has frequently come in handy for reheating a casserole, warming pizza, and even baking a pie!
I'm really happy with the design changes I made in our kitchen. I love the bright light that floods the space. There's a nice balance of whites, greys, and browns. And the space functions better overall.